Notes and News
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450 Notes and News STANDARDS FOR COSMETICS IT is ninety years since the first issue of the British Pharma- copæia in which minimum standards of purity for certain drugs were officially formulated, and these standards are now acknowledged in many parts of- the world. Cosmetics and toilet preparations, even when they contain chemicals for which there is an official B.P. preparation, remain outside the scope of the Drug Acts and regulations. Although the larger manufacturers of cosmetics, some of whom are also manu- facturing druggists, have prided themselves on the high standards of purity of their preparations, some smaller firms have not always been so careful. The Toilet Preparations Federation, the governing body for the industry in this country, acknowledging its responsibility to maintain the highest standards, formed a study group in 1953 to establish chemical, physical, and purity specifications and data for the raw materials used in the trade. In January, 1957, it published a loose-leaf handbook in which the first eighteen standards known as T.P.F. standards are detailed. A foreword states that more standards will be added from time to time and those already recorded will be subject to constant review. Among the substances included are liquid paraffin, glycerin, paraffin wax, precipitated chalk, titanium dioxide, propylene glycol, and talc. Standards relate to colour, odour, taste, solubility, moisture, screen test, impurities, and other factors. Where B.P. or other standards exist, these are quoted, and in their absence reference is made to T.P.F. methods in the second half of the specifications. There are some 200 member companies of the Toilet Preparations Federation who have agreed only to buy the 18 materials listed to the Federation’s specification. While this is an undoubted and welcome advance, the success of the standards scheme will depend on the publicity which the Federation are able to give it. Possibly member companies might use some symbol on the containers of their preparations which would tell the buyer that their products conform to the T.P.F. standards. Although there is little-recent evidence that impure chemicals in cosmetics have proved harmful, there are still many examples of sensitivity to certain ingredients used in cos- metics. It would be a great help to the dermatologist in tracing the offending sensitising chemical if the Federation’s member companies would jointly agree to disclose on the container the nature of all active ingredients, as is the requirement for all proprietary drugs, even though the individual quantities of these were omitted. INFORMATION ON PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY A CLEARING-HOUSE of information on psychopharmacology is being established by the psychopharmacology service centre of the National Institute of Mental Health in the U.S.A. The centre plans to provide bibliographies and references and to prepare critical and analytic reviews of special topics. Workers in this field are invited to provide three copies of any papers that deal with their work-whether reprints, pre- publication manuscripts, progress reports, informal mimeo- graphed reports, papers read at meetings, or abstracts. Letters outlining work in progress would also be welcome. Any restrictions that authors place on the centre’s use of their papers will be observed. Communications should be addressed to the technical information unit, psychopharmacology service centre, National Institute of Mental Health, 8719, Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. RESIDENT POSTS IN TASMANIA THE Devon Hospital and Burnie Hospital on the north- west coast of Tasmania welcome British graduates to their five posts of resident medical officer. The duties cover all branches of medicine, surgery, and obstetrics ; and the hospitals are visited by specialists. The Director-General of Health Services, Tasmania, suggests that the posts are especially suitable for those intending to emigrate to Australia, who can get assisted passages ; others will be given a grant of £100 towards the cost of their passage by the Health Depart- ment, at the end of their year of service. Further information can be had from the Director-General of Health Services, Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania. 1. Obtainable, price 42s., from the secretary of the Toilet Prepara- tions Federation, Sackville House, 40, Piccadilly, London, W.1. POLIOMYELITIS UNCORRECTED poliomyelitis notifications in the week ending Aug. 17 were as follows (previous week in parentheses). paralytic 176 (183), non-paralytic 191 (145) ; total 367 (328), Society of Apothecaries of London Dr. Reginald Fisher has been elected master, with Dr, W. S. C. Copeman and Dr. R. R. Trail as wardens. The following diplomas have been granted : L.M.S.S.A.—G. R. Hatch, R. W. Salmon, E. A. Robinson A. D. H. Pooler, E. D. Keen, V. C. C. V. Dewhurst, D. H. Bailey’ R. E. Tattersall, M. Roberts, V. A. Economides, A. J. Dyer, D. A Logan, F. W. Yates, M. Parkes, B. L. Copley, T. R. Robinson. H. Sabry. M.M.S.A.—P. V. Briffa, R. D. Haigh, M. A. H. Rayman, G. D, Rees. D.I.H.—T. J. Burke, G. S. Dhaliwa.l, G. D. Forwell, J. Harkness, W. R. Lee, E. R. Steyn, G. Thomas. Nutrition Society The society is holding a symposium at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, W.C.1, on Saturday, Oct. 12, on the Nutritive Value of Proteins. Further particu. lars may be obtained from the hon. programmes secretary, Miss D. F. Hollingsworth, c/o Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road, London, S.W.I. The Scottish group of the society is holding a symposium on the Nutrition of the Very Young on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Dundee. Those interested, who are not already members, are invited to write to Dr. J. Davidson, Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeenshire. London Medical Exhibition This exhibition, organised by the British & Colonial Druggist Ltd. (194, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2), will be held from Nov. 18 to 22 at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster. CORRIGENDUM: Coronary-artery Disease.-In an annotation of June 15 (p. 1231) we erroneously stated that a W.H.O. study group regarded the stress, strain, and mental tension of modern life as important in the genesis of iachsemic heart. disease. In fact the study group found that the belief that psychological factors play some part " appears to have as yet no scientific basis." Appointments ANDERSON, C. J. B., M.B. Aberd., F.R.C.S.E.: consultant surgeon. Arbroath Infirmary. AwoN, M. P., M.B. N.U.I. : registrar in obstetrics and gynæcology, Peterborough group of hospitals. CASSIE, GEORGE, M.B. Aberd., D.P.H. : assistant M.o. and school M.o., Lanark. HARDIE, R. S., M.B. Edin., D.P.H. M.o.H., Argyll. HARE, E. H., M.D. Camb., D.P.M. : consultant physician, Bethleni Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, London. HARPER, C. L.. M.R.C.S., D.o. : assistant ophthalmologist (S.H.M.O,), Caernarvon and Anglesey and Clwyd and Deeside H.M,C. areas. HAWES, G. C. B., M.B. Lond. : assistant M.o.H., Warwickshire. KANAGASABAY, S., M.B. Ceylon: orthopeedio registrar, Peter borough group of hospitals. KEATES, P. G., M.D. Lond., M.1l.C.P., D.M.R.D. : consultantradiologist. United Leeds Hospitals and Leeds Regional Hospital Board. KIRLAND, A. L., M.B. Belf., D.OBST., D.P.H.: assistant M.O.Roo Warwickshire. ’ MCCULLOUGH, ISABEL M., L.R.c.p.i., D.C.H., D.OBST.: senior xt.o., Derbyshire. McEwAN, CHRISTINA C., M.B. Glasg., D.P.H.: assistant M.O. and school M.o., Lanark. MACKINNON, A. G., M.B. Lpool, F.F.A. R.c.a. : consultant anæs- ‘ thetist, United Liverpool Hospitals and North Liverpool area hospitals. MACLENNAN, R. D. G., L.R.C.P.F.., D.P.H.: assistant M.o. and school M.o., Lanark. MACTAGGART, D. K., M.B. Aberd., D.P.H.: M.o.H., Torquay. OLIVER, F. W., M.B. Mane., F.F.A. R.C.S. : part-time consultant anæsthetist, Halifax. RANKIN, N. E., M.B. Lond., D.PATH. : assistant pathologist (s.H.M.o.), department of pathology, Royal Marsden Hospital. London. REY, J. H., M.D. Lond. : part-time consultant physician, Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, London. TURK, D. C., 13.m. Oxfd, M.R.C.P.: lecturer in bacteriology, depart- ment of pathology, University College of the West Indies. Jamaica. WARD, W. C., M.B., D.P.H.: M.o.H., Gainsborough and Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire. WATSON, D. C., M.C., M.D. Lpool, M.R.C.p. : consultant physician, superintendent, Sefton General Hospital.
Transcript of Notes and News
450
Notes and News
STANDARDS FOR COSMETICS
IT is ninety years since the first issue of the British Pharma-copæia in which minimum standards of purity for certaindrugs were officially formulated, and these standards are nowacknowledged in many parts of- the world. Cosmetics andtoilet preparations, even when they contain chemicals forwhich there is an official B.P. preparation, remain outside thescope of the Drug Acts and regulations. Although the largermanufacturers of cosmetics, some of whom are also manu-facturing druggists, have prided themselves on the highstandards of purity of their preparations, some smaller firmshave not always been so careful.The Toilet Preparations Federation, the governing body for
the industry in this country, acknowledging its responsibilityto maintain the highest standards, formed a study group in1953 to establish chemical, physical, and purity specificationsand data for the raw materials used in the trade. In January,1957, it published a loose-leaf handbook in which the firsteighteen standards known as T.P.F. standards are detailed.A foreword states that more standards will be added fromtime to time and those already recorded will be subject toconstant review. Among the substances included are liquidparaffin, glycerin, paraffin wax, precipitated chalk, titaniumdioxide, propylene glycol, and talc. Standards relate to
colour, odour, taste, solubility, moisture, screen test, impurities,and other factors. Where B.P. or other standards exist, theseare quoted, and in their absence reference is made to T.P.F.methods in the second half of the specifications.
There are some 200 member companies of the Toilet
Preparations Federation who have agreed only to buy the 18materials listed to the Federation’s specification. While thisis an undoubted and welcome advance, the success of thestandards scheme will depend on the publicity which theFederation are able to give it. Possibly member companiesmight use some symbol on the containers of their preparationswhich would tell the buyer that their products conform to theT.P.F. standards.
Although there is little-recent evidence that impure chemicalsin cosmetics have proved harmful, there are still manyexamples of sensitivity to certain ingredients used in cos-
metics. It would be a great help to the dermatologist in tracingthe offending sensitising chemical if the Federation’s membercompanies would jointly agree to disclose on the containerthe nature of all active ingredients, as is the requirement forall proprietary drugs, even though the individual quantitiesof these were omitted.
INFORMATION ON PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
A CLEARING-HOUSE of information on psychopharmacologyis being established by the psychopharmacology service centreof the National Institute of Mental Health in the U.S.A.The centre plans to provide bibliographies and references andto prepare critical and analytic reviews of special topics.Workers in this field are invited to provide three copies of anypapers that deal with their work-whether reprints, pre-publication manuscripts, progress reports, informal mimeo-graphed reports, papers read at meetings, or abstracts. Letters
outlining work in progress would also be welcome. Anyrestrictions that authors place on the centre’s use of theirpapers will be observed. Communications should be addressedto the technical information unit, psychopharmacology servicecentre, National Institute of Mental Health, 8719, ColesvilleRoad, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A.
RESIDENT POSTS IN TASMANIA
THE Devon Hospital and Burnie Hospital on the north-west coast of Tasmania welcome British graduates to theirfive posts of resident medical officer. The duties cover allbranches of medicine, surgery, and obstetrics ; and the
hospitals are visited by specialists. The Director-General ofHealth Services, Tasmania, suggests that the posts are
especially suitable for those intending to emigrate to Australia,who can get assisted passages ; others will be given a grant of£100 towards the cost of their passage by the Health Depart-ment, at the end of their year of service. Further informationcan be had from the Director-General of Health Services,Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania.
1. Obtainable, price 42s., from the secretary of the Toilet Prepara-tions Federation, Sackville House, 40, Piccadilly, London, W.1.
POLIOMYELITIS
UNCORRECTED poliomyelitis notifications in the weekending Aug. 17 were as follows (previous week in parentheses).paralytic 176 (183), non-paralytic 191 (145) ; total 367 (328),
Society of Apothecaries of LondonDr. Reginald Fisher has been elected master, with Dr,
W. S. C. Copeman and Dr. R. R. Trail as wardens.The following diplomas have been granted :L.M.S.S.A.—G. R. Hatch, R. W. Salmon, E. A. Robinson
A. D. H. Pooler, E. D. Keen, V. C. C. V. Dewhurst, D. H. Bailey’R. E. Tattersall, M. Roberts, V. A. Economides, A. J. Dyer, D. ALogan, F. W. Yates, M. Parkes, B. L. Copley, T. R. Robinson.H. Sabry.
M.M.S.A.—P. V. Briffa, R. D. Haigh, M. A. H. Rayman, G. D,Rees.
D.I.H.—T. J. Burke, G. S. Dhaliwa.l, G. D. Forwell, J. Harkness,W. R. Lee, E. R. Steyn, G. Thomas.
Nutrition SocietyThe society is holding a symposium at the Royal Free
Hospital School of Medicine, London, W.C.1, on Saturday,Oct. 12, on the Nutritive Value of Proteins. Further particu.lars may be obtained from the hon. programmes secretary,Miss D. F. Hollingsworth, c/o Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheriesand Food, Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road,London, S.W.I.The Scottish group of the society is holding a symposium
on the Nutrition of the Very Young on Saturday, Sept. 21,in Dundee. Those interested, who are not already members,are invited to write to Dr. J. Davidson, Rowett ResearchInstitute, Bucksburn, Aberdeenshire.
London Medical ExhibitionThis exhibition, organised by the British & Colonial Druggist
Ltd. (194, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2), will be held fromNov. 18 to 22 at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster.
CORRIGENDUM: Coronary-artery Disease.-In an annotationof June 15 (p. 1231) we erroneously stated that a W.H.O.study group regarded the stress, strain, and mental tension ofmodern life as important in the genesis of iachsemic heart.disease. In fact the study group found that the belief that
psychological factors play some part " appears to have as yetno scientific basis."
AppointmentsANDERSON, C. J. B., M.B. Aberd., F.R.C.S.E.: consultant surgeon.
Arbroath Infirmary.AwoN, M. P., M.B. N.U.I. : registrar in obstetrics and gynæcology,
Peterborough group of hospitals.CASSIE, GEORGE, M.B. Aberd., D.P.H. : assistant M.o. and school
M.o., Lanark.HARDIE, R. S., M.B. Edin., D.P.H. M.o.H., Argyll.HARE, E. H., M.D. Camb., D.P.M. : consultant physician, Bethleni
Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, London.HARPER, C. L.. M.R.C.S., D.o. : assistant ophthalmologist (S.H.M.O,),
Caernarvon and Anglesey and Clwyd and Deeside H.M,C.areas.
HAWES, G. C. B., M.B. Lond. : assistant M.o.H., Warwickshire.KANAGASABAY, S., M.B. Ceylon: orthopeedio registrar, Peter
borough group of hospitals.KEATES, P. G., M.D. Lond., M.1l.C.P., D.M.R.D. : consultantradiologist.
United Leeds Hospitals and Leeds Regional Hospital Board.KIRLAND, A. L., M.B. Belf., D.OBST., D.P.H.: assistant M.O.Roo
Warwickshire. ’
MCCULLOUGH, ISABEL M., L.R.c.p.i., D.C.H., D.OBST.: senior xt.o.,Derbyshire.
McEwAN, CHRISTINA C., M.B. Glasg., D.P.H.: assistant M.O. andschool M.o., Lanark.
MACKINNON, A. G., M.B. Lpool, F.F.A. R.c.a. : consultant anæs-‘
thetist, United Liverpool Hospitals and North Liverpool areahospitals.
MACLENNAN, R. D. G., L.R.C.P.F.., D.P.H.: assistant M.o. and schoolM.o., Lanark.
MACTAGGART, D. K., M.B. Aberd., D.P.H.: M.o.H., Torquay.OLIVER, F. W., M.B. Mane., F.F.A. R.C.S. : part-time consultant
anæsthetist, Halifax.RANKIN, N. E., M.B. Lond., D.PATH. : assistant pathologist
(s.H.M.o.), department of pathology, Royal Marsden Hospital.London.
REY, J. H., M.D. Lond. : part-time consultant physician, BethlemRoyal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, London.
TURK, D. C., 13.m. Oxfd, M.R.C.P.: lecturer in bacteriology, depart-ment of pathology, University College of the West Indies.Jamaica.
WARD, W. C., M.B., D.P.H.: M.o.H., Gainsborough and Isle ofAxholme, Lincolnshire.
WATSON, D. C., M.C., M.D. Lpool, M.R.C.p. : consultant physician,superintendent, Sefton General Hospital.
